As one of the leading brokers in the area, Jason Nocher, along with his wife, Jennifer, decided it was time to grow their business and open their our own agency. Their first office opened in in downtown Pittsfield at 34 Depot St. at the start of February and they kicked things off with many new listings throughout Berkshire County.

Before opening his own agency, Jason was a top seller in a large local firm. Jennifer will serve as office manager. Jason enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, hiking, camping and fishing. Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and jogging.

Nocher Realty added a new agent in the field, Jeff King, who comes with a great

LENOX, Mass. -- The Berkshire County Youth Soccer League needs referees for the 2018 season. A new referee course will be held at the Hampton Inn in Lenox on March 18. The course costs $115. Details can be found at https://www.massref.net/becomeref.cfm The BCYSL has also agreed to support this initiative by reimbursing new referees for the kit that they purchase after they have officiated a total of 10 games within a calendar year. Any inquiries should be directed to Anthony Pedolzky at assignor@BCYSL.org.

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Norman Rockwell Museum’s Rockwell Center for American Visual Studies, the nation’s first research institute dedicated to American illustration, announces its new Society of Fellows.

Established to bring leading thinkers and fresh perspectives to the study of American illustration art between 1850 and the present, the Society of Fellows will explore the history and criticism of this understudied field, to more fully develop the language and discourse of an academic discipline devoted to published art. In addition to scholarly writings, the Society of Fellows will convene twice a year to engage in discussion and debate, posing key questions

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Northern Berkshire United Way has funded a grant to purchase Omron blood pressure cuffs for hypertension patients at CHP North Adams Family Medicine.

This equipment provides easy one-touch operation, allowing home blood pressure monitoring that is both simple and accurate. One blood pressure measurement is like a snapshot. It only tells what an individual’s blood pressure is at that moment. A record of readings taken over time provides a “time-lapse” picture of blood pressure history that can aid treatment.

The American Heart Association recommends home monitoring for all people with high blood pressure to help the healthcare

When a country (USA) is losing many billions of dollars on trade with virtually every country it does business with, trade wars are good, and easy to win. Example, when we are down $100 billion with a certain country and they get cute, don’t trade anymore-we win big. It’s easy!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 2, 2018 Stocks declined this week. This is a typical and largely expected reaction that should see the averages re-test the lows suffered in early February. Investors should understand that this is no cause for alarm. In past columns, I had warned investors that there may be another shoe to drop before the correction in the markets was truly

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Berkshire Waldorf High School life science teacher Lee Magadini has been awarded a year-long internship with the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, working with the Climate Change Research Initiative.

Magadini is one of four interns chosen from among thousands of applicants. As a NASA GISS CCRI intern, she will work directly with NASA scientists, lead research teams and develop STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curricula. As an associate researcher at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and a STEM education expert, Magadini will integrate NASA education resources and content into her classroom while improving STEM education within

As the film critiquing tumblers in my brain jumbled about during a viewing of Ryan Coogler's "Black Panther," one heck of an astute action-drama courtesy of Marvel Studios, I contemplated the complexities regarding one's point of view. Granted, this white, would-be silk stocking liberal was gratified by the racial and political wish fulfillment represented by the semi-secret, technologically advanced African kingdom of Wakanda where T'Challa, aka Black Panther, has just been elevated to the throne. But what remains of the kid in me took it a bit further. I thought about heroes and what they meant to us in that portion of growing up that reveled in playing make

The markets are in a funk. Concern that Trump's tax cut will be too much, too late, has investors riled up. But there may be a flip side to this argument that bears watching. First, the negatives, as authored by me way back when the tax cut was still being contemplated and the markets were riding high in anticipation of such. At the time, I voiced my concerns and it is worth repeating them. Fiscal spending because of the Republican-inspired tax cut adds $1.5 trillion of stimulus to an economy that is already growing at a 3 percent clip. I bemoaned the fact that this tax cut was about eight years too late. Back then, I wrote that the fastest way to pull the economy out of

BOSTON — The state Senate has engrossed a bill that would allow the Baker Hill Road District to own real property and enter into agreements related to the Berkshire Mall. "This is an important economic development initiative for Lanesborough and northern Berkshire County," said state Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield. "By expanding the legal role of the Baker Hill Road District to include the redevelopment of the Berkshire Mall property, we gain a powerful new capacity to create jobs. I hope the district will develop an aggressive plan to position the complex as a regional revenue generator and host for thriving businesses." H.3760, An Act relative

First Assistant District Attorney Paul Caccaviello will take over the office. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It was 14 years ago, following the unexpected death of District Attorney Gerard D. Downing, that the first assistant, David F. Capeless was called on to step up. Capeless was appointed to fill Downing's shoes and has routinely been voted in over the last 14 years. But now, Capeless is calling it quits and letting his first assistant take over. Capeless will retire on March 15 and Gov. Charlie Baker will appoint First Assistant District Attorney Paul Caccaviello to the job. "I am proud of what I have accomplished in my career, and I leave with my head

What a difference a day makes. Snow enthusiasts are still keeping a close eye on a storm developing for Thursday and Friday, the first two days of March that could bring up to a foot of snow to parts of the Berkshires.

The National Weather Service is now forecasting "Heavy wet snow and gusty winds expected. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 10 inches. Some gusty winds to 40 to 50 mph are possible during the afternoon into the early evening."

So as the saying goes, March could be coming in like a lion ... and then perhaps leaving like a lamb 31 days later, maybe bringing spring for good? We can hope!

Accuweather is continuing to hedge its bets a bit, calling for a wintry

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Miss Hall’s School Theater Ensemble will bop back to the 1950s for its winter musical, "Cry-Baby," the stage adaptation of the cult-classic John Waters film.

Performances will take place at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 2; 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 3; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 4, in the Woods Theater of the Elizabeth Gatchell Klein Arts Center on the Miss Hall’s campus. General admission is $10, and reservations are recommended. Go online for tickets or call 413-443-6401. Also, please note, the performance and subject matter are PG-13 and not suitable for